I have noticed that after an oil change the car consumes oil quicker than when the oil has a 1k or 2k on it. Why does this happen? The get the oil changed every 3.5k miles and make sure it is topped off, yet have to add about a half quart in the next week or 2 after the change, but then after I get 1k miles on that oil I don't add another half quart to keep it full for quite some time. Does new oil break down faster? Just something I have noticed, found it kinda strange.

 

After the oil change is the level checked when the engine is cold? The oil level is supposed to be checked when it's hot. So if it's cold there will be more of it in the pan and it will appear right but it will be too low. Then the next time you check when it's hot and more of the oil is out of the pan it reads correctly. That would give the appearance of higher consumption. Just a guess.

 

No, it is checked just like any other time, when the engine is warm. I make sure it is full, if not a little overfilled when changed, and then within the first 500 miles on that oil, it drops more than the next 1k or more. Just interesting to me, it is like the new oil burns off faster than old oil.

 

The filter fills and absorbs some of the oil.